Method for creating and exhibiting multidimensional interactive stories in digital electronic media

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a method of exhibiting a multi-dimensional production consisting of two or more interrelated stories, storylines and/or story parts. The interrelated stories, storylines and story parts are multiplexed onto a single track of a plurality of tracks. The viewer can choose to switch between various stories, storylines or story parts at any time during the viewing of the production. A de-multiplexer would be provided for de-multiplexing the production based upon the selection by the viewer. The de-multiplexer can be provided proximate to the viewer or at a remote location from the viewer.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/461,551, filed Jun. 12, 2003.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the manner of creating and exhibitingaudio-visual presentations, such as television programs and digitalmotion pictures, and, more specifically, to a method for creating andexhibiting a new type of audio-visual content, consisting of a singlestory, delivered in one or multiplexed tracks, allowing the viewer toswitch between interrelated stories, storylines or story parts at anypoint during the viewing of the program.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Current and historical television and movies tell a story revealedthrough a combination of audio-visual components called “scenes.”Although the writer and director can include the suggestion of manyother sub-stories and sub-plots, generally only one specific set ofscenes is developed and produced for serial exhibition. The exhibitionof the program or movie therefore represents a single story product astold through a static beginning, middle and end.

Some articles addressing the promise of high-definition digitaltelevision have anticipated the ability to utilize differentsub-channels to include different camera angles, particularly insporting events. Different camera angles alone, however, do not enablethe creation of deeper and more complex stories and storylines, as doesthe disclosed process.

Some games and DVD's have suggested the ability to select the directionof the plot line from a choice of pre-cut scenes which could then beassembled in new ways. The process of searching and adding the scenes isstill clumsy and currently there is no way of adapting such technologyto the broadcast, cable or theatrical environments.

Still other innovations have disclosed means to assemble scenes based ona viewer's preference, such as in response to ratings of sexual,violence or language content.

All of the pre-existing approaches involve the presentation of aserially assembled sequence of scenes.

In recent years, some experimentation has been done with liveperformance “stage plays” providing simultaneously unfolding plot lines.For example, the play Tamara by John Krizanc, first performed in 1981,involves over 100 scenes played in a large set in which the audience“invisibly” joins the actors. At the conclusion of each scene, theaudience may elect to follow most any of the characters (who generallygo in different directions) to their next scene in a different part ofthe set. The audience, which starts together, is fractioned as differentgroups follow different characters in separate and distinct scenes,joining again periodically at common scenes, intermission and the end ofthe play, at which time they can share their varied experiences. Theoverall story does not change, but the parts of it that an audiencemember chooses to see are highly variable. Further, once choosing a pathor character to follow, an audience member cannot choose a differentpath until the next common scene involving several actors. That type ofmulti-dimensional live production cannot be replicated using traditionaltelevision or motion picture production methodologies or any previouslydisclosed process.

The following prior art patents are found to be relevant to the presentinvention:

-   1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,700 issued to Freeman on Jul. 11, 1989 for    “Interactive Television System for Providing Full Motion Synched    Compatible Audio/Visual Displays from Transmitted Television    Signals” (hereafter the “Freeman Patent”);-   2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,730 issued to Reimer on Jul. 14, 1998 for    “System and Method for Enabling the Creation of Personalized Movie    Presentations and Personalized Movie Collections” (hereafter the    “Reimer Patent”;-   3. U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,320 issued to Vancelette on Apr. 13, 1999 for    “Multi-Channel Television System with Viewer-Selectable Video and    Audio” (hereafter the “Vancelette Patent”);-   4. U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,833 issued to Abecassis on Dec. 14, 1999 for    “Disc Storing a Variable-Content-Video and a User Interface”    (hereafter the “'833 Abecassis Patent”);-   5. U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,234 issued to Taira on Dec. 28, 1999 for    “Method of Reproducing” (hereafter the “Taira Patent”);-   6. U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,444 issued to Abecassis on Nov. 21, 2000 for    “Motion Picture Including Within a Duplication of Frames” (hereafter    the “'444 Abecassis Patent”);-   7. U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,216 B1 issued to Abecassis on Jul. 31, 2001    for “Intermittently Arranged Frames for Instantaneously Shifting    Among Video Segments” (hereafter the “'216 Abecassis Patent”);-   8. U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,482 B1 issued to Seidman on Oct. 2, 2001 for    “System for Two-Way Digital Multimedia Broadcast and Interactive    Services (hereafter the “Seidman Patent”);-   9. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0053089 A1 to    Massey published on May 2, 2002 for “Methods and Apparatus for    Presenting Interactive Entertainment” (hereafter the “Massey    Patent”);-   10. U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,879 B1 issued to Sturgeon on Aug. 6, 2002    for “Customization Schemes for Content Presentation in a Device with    Converged Functionality” (hereafter the “Sturgeon Patent”); and-   11. U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,207 B1 issued to Abecassis on Oct. 8, 2002    for “Playing a Variable-Content-Video Having a User Interface”    (hereafter the “'207 Abecassis Patent”).

None of the above prior art patents disclose the creative novel featuresof the present invention of having a multidimensional presentationhaving at least two interrelated stories, storyline or story parts inaudio-visual media and simultaneously delivering parallel tracks of theat least two interrelated stories, storyline or story parts in a mannerso that viewing can be alternated among the parallel tracks. In theprior art, it is either compartmentalized so that various prearrangedcomponents can be pieced together at the beginning and a viewer cannotalternate at any time from one track to the other track, or there areother methods of various prearranged programs that can be preselected atan initial time. None of these prior art patents disclose simultaneousstreaming of parallel stories with divergent and convergent scenes sothat a viewer can alternate between the multiplicity of various scenesto create his own individualized combination of story sequences.

Additionally, the prior art does not disclose a system in which theinterrelated stories, storylines or story parts are multiplexed on atleast a single track, allowing the viewer to switch between theinterrelated stories, storylines or story parts at any time during theviewing of the program.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The current invention provides a means of creating and means ofexhibiting a multi-dimensional production consisting of two or moreinterrelated stories, storylines or story parts, in audio-visual media,by simultaneously delivering or streaming parallel “tracks” or“channels,” between and among which the viewer(s) can alternate at willto create a variable, interactive audio-visual experience or product.The technology is adaptable to a variety of delivery systems including,but not limited to, commercial broadcast television, pay television(cable and satellite) and theatrical release (i.e., movies in theatres).

Additionally, the current invention utilizes audio-visual media havingone or more multiplexed tracks on which the interrelated stories,storylines or story parts are provided, allowing the viewer tocontinuously switch between the interrelated stories, storylines orstory parts during any time during the viewing of the production. Thede-multiplexing can be accomplished by a de-multiplexer provided at thelocation of the user, or de-multiplexed at a location remote from theviewer and a signal or signals is transmitted to the viewer as one ormore signals.

Further novel features and other objects of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, discussion andthe appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustrationonly and not limitation, there is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram of the present invention illustratingtwo tracks with one track containing Story A and one track containingStory B;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram showing the present invention embodiedon a single-sided double-layered DVD disk with two reading laser heads;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram showing the present invention embodiedon a double-sided single-layered DVD disk with two reading laser heads;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative diagram showing the present invention embodiedon a double-sided double-layered DVD disk with four reading laser heads;

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of a multiple laser DVD playercontaining two lasers each reading and streaming an independent channelof content through a channel selector;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative diagram showing the configuration for thedelivery of multi-dimensional content from two players;

FIG. 7 is a block chart diagram showing how the streams from thetwo-tracks of FIG. 6 are synchronized via a synchronization mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative diagram showing the present invention embodiedon a single-sided DVD disk for a single laser head for readingmultiplexed data; and

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate block diagrams of two types ofde-multiplexer units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, it should be understood thatsuch embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative ofbut a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which canrepresent applications of the principles of the present invention.Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art towhich the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit,scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined inthe appended claims.

The discussion herein addresses application of the invented method tothe creation of a 2-track product, but the same process may be used fora plurality of interrelated stories or story parts, referred to hereininterchangeably as “tracks” or “channels”, as well as providing one ormore multiplexed tracks. The multiplexed data can be time divisionmultiplexed, frequency division multiplexed, phase division multiplexed,or-code length division multiplexed.

The disclosed process impacts the historical methods of writing, editingand exhibition, and to a lesser extent, production of audio-visualcontent.

Currently, a video program or theatrical motion picture represents asingle set of scenes serially displayed, regardless of the method ofassembling those scenes or the level of interactivity with the viewer intheir assembly. The invention contemplates 2 or more interrelatedstories or storylines, simultaneously streamed to the viewer in amultiplexed format or on parallel tracks, any parallel or multiplexedtrack of which the viewer or viewers may select for viewing for anylength of time and switch to any other track at any time. In oneembodiment, each and all tracks are capable of independent viewing intheir entirety; i.e., rather than constituting substitutable componentsto be assembled, each and all tracks comprise a complete, independentlyviewable story, but are synergistically related to the other channels toprovide the viewer with the ability to switch between the stories andstorylines, for a different, richer, and/or otherwise more comprehensiveexperience. In one embodiment, it may be desirable in the implementationof the present invention to restrict the viewer's ability to switchbetween tracks from time to time for the purpose of creative control ofthe viewer's experience. However, in other embodiments, such restrictionwould not be used.

In this first embodiment, each channel comprises a story parallel intime to other tracks, but addressing independent space and with commonevent “scenes.” For example, independent Story (track) A might involve aseries of scenes of a man preparing for a “blind date” and eventuallygoing to meet the woman, ending when he rings the doorbell. Story(track) B might involve the woman preparing for the same date andwaiting for the man to arrive, ending when the doorbell rings. A commonscene might begin when the door is answered and the couple is together.During exhibition, some viewers might watch track A, some track B, andsome might switch between the two. All would watch the common scene. Atany given time, track A would match B in time (at least approximately),although, except for the common scenes, they would reveal the events andexperiences of different characters in different places. All threeviewer groups could have a different viewing experience, and the extentto which they would be different would depend on the nature and contentof the information on the different parallel or multiplexed tracks.

For digital, high definition programming, common scenes could be inhigh-definition, while independent storylines could be in sub-channels.

An alternative embodiment, but one still based on parallel time andindependent space, involves no common scenes, but involves commonevents. For example, in the “blind date” scenario above, Story A mightinclude only the man's story and “point of view” for the entire time,while Story B might include only the woman's story and “point of view,”although the time dimension would remain parallel to provide somelogical consistency and continuity in switching back and forth. In thisembodiment, even the common event would involve different content andscenes, although both channels would be cumulative and synergistic ineffect.

A second alternative embodiment involves parallel time but separatedimension; for example, where one track comprises the “real event and aparallel track comprises flash-backs or concurrent character thoughtprocesses.

It is an object of this methodology to provide flexibility to thegreatest extent possible to allow the creative process to flourish.Thus, by its nature, the various embodiments and applications of themethod cannot be fully identified.

Method for Creating Multi-Dimensional Content

The process of creating multi-dimensional content will become apparentthrough the disclosure of the medium and explanation of the differencesbetween it and traditional media content.

Creation of a multi-dimensional content involves some requirements notpresent in creating stories for traditional media. In assembling asingle sequence of scenes for traditional media (even when the sequenceis variable and/or the process of their assembly interactive), thecreator need not necessarily be concerned with the length (in time) ofthe individual scenes. They will flow logically in sequence regardlessof length. There is no outside reference to which any given scene mustcoordinate.

Critical to creating a multi-track (multi-dimensional) story, however,is the need to ensure that the several parallel or multiplexed “tracks”maintain a logical consistency relative to each other, such that aviewer switching between tracks at any time will view somethinglogically consistent (e.g., in time or space) with the presentation ofthe other track(s). To accomplish that result, scriptwriting and editingis performed with a sensitivity to issues of “parallelism,”“divergence,” and “convergence.” “Parallelism” addresses the importancethat, at all times, each track contain content sufficiently related tothe other track(s) so that switching between tracks at any time iscontemplated and will provide cumulative and logically related content.Divergence and convergence refer to all tracks leaving or arriving atcommon scenes and content in a coordinated and timed manner. It iscritical that all three issues be addressed in each story track inwriting, production and editing.

Writing. Methods for writing scripts containing simultaneously unfoldingstory are known as evidenced by the play Tamara by John Krizanc,mentioned above, although such techniques have not heretofore beenadapted to recorded or electronic media. In multi-dimensional liveperformances (i.e., “stage” plays), there is more flexibility inparallelism, in that the viewer can only switch at converged, commonscenes. That limitation on audience choice in the context of stage playsmakes writing for electronic media somewhat more difficult, as thescript must contemplate viewer switches at any point in time.

Production. The production of individual scenes is not contemplated tovary significantly from current industry practices except insofar asnecessary to retain parallelism, which will require particularsensitivity to time, and may have its most significant impact as itrelates to the editing process. The timing of scenes is critical tomaintain parallelism and to match the beginning and termination ofcommon scenes across tracks. Interim independent scenes are lesscritical, as long as the logical relationship between tracks ismaintained. As a result, interim scenes should incorporate an amount ofbeginning and ending material which can be edited to various lengths asnecessary to accommodate otherwise inevitable variability between trackscenes.

Editing is critical to maintaining parallelism, and convergence anddivergence at common points. As a result, the beginning and end of eachcommon scene must bear the identical time relationship to the beginningof the production to ensure that all tracks “meet” at common scenessimultaneously.

FIG. 1 illustrates two tracks, one containing Story A and one containingStory B. Scenes are denoted “S1,” “S2,” etc. and their variable lengthis indicated by the width of the boxes. Common scenes (i.e., scenescommon to both stories) are indicated by their common identification,“S1,” “S6” and “S8.” To maintain parallelism, the beginning and endingtime of common scenes from the beginning of the production, indicated byT1, T2 and T3, must be timed to be identical in both tracks. Furtherdiscussion of that process is addressed in “MaintainingSynchronization,” below.

In order to inform viewers when alternative content is available onother parallel or multiplexed tracks or channels, in the preferredembodiment a symbol is displayed in one or more of the comers of thescreen to indicate that alternative content is available. In analternative embodiment, a separate display on either the viewing box,the media player (e.g., DVD player) or synchronization box (describedbelow) indicates the availability of alternative track content.

Storage

In the preferred embodiment, multi-dimensional stories are stored onlaser-readable discs, such as DVD's. Each interrelated story, story lineor story part comprises a separate and independent “track” or channel,or be multiplexed on a single or multiple tracks, that is designed to beread by a laser simultaneously with the other tracks/channels. Thus,there will need to be a plurality of tracks and a correspondingplurality of reading lasers, equal to the number of tracks the creatorof the story has determined to include.

Additionally, if the material is provided in a multiplexed format on asingle track, only a single reader need be utilized to read the materialon the disk. A de-multiplexer is in communication with the reader. Thedisk itself, the reader and the de-multiplexer can be located inproximity to the viewer, or at a location remote from the viewer.

Current technology enables up to two layers of data on each of two sidesof a DVD, with each layer capable of storing approximately one two hourmovie. Depending on the DVD's storage capacity (single sided, singlelayer; single-sided, double layer; double-sided, single-layer; ordouble-sided, double layer) and the length of the production, one DVDcould support 1, 2 or four tracks of a multi-dimensional story.Currently applied technology utilizes one laser to read all tracks. Thisinvention discloses a player comprising multiple lasers, each dedicatedto reading only some of the tracks.

Retrieval (Reading)

FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate the laser configuration of multiple laserDVD players, for reading non-multiplexed data on parallel tracks. FIG. 2shows a side view of a single-sided, double-layered DVD disc, 1, withtwo reading laser heads, 2 and 3, respectively, and laser beams, 4 and5, respectively. FIG. 3 shows a double-sided, single-layered DVD disc,6, with two reading laser heads, 7 and 8, respectively, and laser beams,9 and 10, respectively. FIG. 4 shows a double-sided, double-layered DVDdisc, 11, with four reading laser heads, 12, 13, 14 and 15,respectively, and laser beams, 16, 17, 18 and 19, respectively.

It should be noted that for double-sided DVD's whose sides are intendedto be read simultaneously, the tracks on each side would be written andread in reverse direction from the tracks on the other side, i.e.,clockwise on one side and counterclockwise on the other side. Thestarting position of each track must be coordinated and standardized toallow the synchronization of reading lasers.

A plurality of DVD players, each containing 1, 2 or 4 lasers to read alike number of tracks could be utilized to access and stream severalchannels.

Exhibition

Exhibition of multi-dimensional stories, created as described above, canbe displayed via a variety of media, including commercial broadcast andsubscription television, home entertainment devices, such as DVD playerdevices designed for such media, and digital motion picture theatres.Mechanisms for each type of exhibition process, as well as featurescommon to all, are disclosed below.

Maintaining Synchronization.

Critical to the delivery of multi-dimensional content in recorded mediais the synchronization of the delivery of the various tracks (orchannels). Synchronization can become a problem as a result of any orall of the following: (a) failure of the original content to beadequately synchronized in its creation; (b) alignment of lasers in amulti-laser player; or (c) synchronized play between multiple players,either as a result in a discrepancy in the moment of commencing play,pausing play, or as a result of discrepancies in the rate of play.

Corrections for failure of the original content to be adequatelysynchronized in its creation may, to some extent, be corrected by someof the means disclosed for correcting the other causes ofsynchronization lapses, but it is not an object of this invention tootherwise address major failures in production at the point of playback.

Because multiple heads reading a single DVD will, by definition, bereading a disk that starts and stops at the same time and spins at thesame speed, synchronization of a multiple laser device can only lapsewhen the reading lasers fall out of alignment. This is viewed primarilyas a fixed alignment issue; however, mechanical means for furtheradjustment of a laser's point of focus along the track may beincorporated and adjusted by a feedback mechanism in a manner similar tothat discussed below.

In the first embodiment, synchronization of tracks from two or moreplayers is maintained via a comparison of elapsed time from the start ofthe content. Means for encoding or otherwise tracking elapsed time in astored stream of digital audio-visual content, as well as speeding up,slowing down or pausing the reading of such content, are well-known. Acommon example of the implementation of this knowledge is exhibited inhome DVD players. When playing a DVD, a display shows the elapsed timefrom the beginning of the video presentation. Buttons are available forfast forwarding, reversing or pausing the play. Thus, it is known wherethe current point is along the length of the “track.”

Disclosed below is a system of reading laser-readable discs in which aplurality of tracks on a single disc are read simultaneously. It isanticipated that the nature of such technology would maintainsynchronization of the tracks automatically. Alternatively, a pluralityof players may be synchronized.

Synchronization of separate players is maintained by comparing theelapsed time of each track via electronic processor and a simplesoftware algorithm. If the tracks are not synchronized, i.e., at thesame point from the origin, the lasers reading the “second” andsubsequent tracks are advanced or slowed to match the elapsed time ofthe “first” track. For broadcast or cable television systems where themultiple channels are distributed to multiple locations for multipleviewers, each of which viewers potentially selecting a different channelat any time, it doesn't matter which track is designated the “first”track for the purpose of synchronization. With respect to localizedexhibition, where only one channel is displayed at a given point intime, in the preferred embodiment of the current invention, the channelbeing displayed is designated as the first channel and those channelsnot being displayed are designated as the second and subsequent tracks.

In an alternative embodiment, potentially applicable in standardbroadcast television where different tracks are broadcast by differentchannels, program start times, commercial breaks, restart times andsegments are referenced to an independent and common time source, suchas the National Bureau of Standards time. The independent broadcastersthen synchronize their broadcast delivery of related channel content toadhere to the time reference milestones.

Dave Jones Design of Oswego, N.Y. manufactures a series of intelligentDVD synchronizers. These synchronizers are designed to start a pluralityof DVD players at exactly the same time and remain synchronized witheach other for the duration of the program.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,515 to McDade et al describes a manner ofsynchronizing an audio-visual stream by- a software clock in a personalcomputer. The teachings of this patent will be incorporated byreference. The encoding is coordinated across multiple audio-visualstreams, thereby providing a system for synchronizing multipleaudio-visual streams in the same manner that the components of a singleaudio visual track are synchronized. In addition, a buffer can be addedto the elements shown in FIG. 7 for each stream to enable any necessaryadjustments to individual stream progress in order to synchronize thedisplay of all of these streams.

Track/Channel Selection

A means by which the viewer (or viewers) select which channel to view isprovided, the precise embodiment of which may depend upon the mediumused, as described below. The user thus selects which of the pluralityof related content channels he/she wishes to view and only that channelis displayed. The other channels remain at all times synchronized andimmediately available.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of a multiple laser DVD player,containing two lasers, each reading and streaming an independent channelof content through a channel selector, which, in response to userselection, delivers only the channel desired by the user to the displaydevice (such as a television set).

FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration for the delivery of multi-dimensionalcontent from two players. Play is simultaneously started, stopped,paused and otherwise controlled by the operator through a common controlmechanism. Streams from the two tracks are synchronized via asynchronization mechanism which operates in accordance with analgorithm, such as that illustrated in FIG. 7. One of the synchronizedstreams is then selected for display by a track/channel selector, andthe selected track is then displayed on the display mechanism. Aspreviously indicated, using the teachings of, for example, the McDade etal patent, a buffer can be added to synchronize the viewing ofparticular tracks or multiplexed data provided on a single ormultiplexed track.

Exhibition

Commercial Broadcast and Subscription Television

The television exhibition of multi-track productions will require onechannel (spectrum, broadcast or cable) for each track of the production.Each channel starts simultaneously to maintain channel parallelism. Itis not required that the same owner broadcast both or all channels; forexample, in the pre-digital television environment, one network orstation can broadcast track A and another network or station canbroadcast track B.

In the digital, high-definition, television environment, the option tobroadcast common scenes in high definition using the entire spectrum ispossible, while divergent storylines use the lower bandwidth (lowerresolution) sub-channels. As current standards anticipate that each highdefinition channel incorporates four low resolution channels, a lowresolution multi-track production (involving four or fewer tracks) couldbe broadcast by a single network or broadcaster.

Incorporation of Commercial Advertising

Commercial breaks can be incorporated-into multi-track productions. Thepreferred method is to insert commercial breaks immediately before orafter common scenes. All channels would thus have such commercial breaksat the same time and for the same length of time (“commercial timewindow”).The content of the commercial breaks need not be the same,however, and can be entirely different unless the commercial uses thesame multi-track technology, in which case the advertiser will utilizeboth or all channels for the duration of that commercial production (butnot longer than the commercial time window).

Additional (or alternative) commercial time windows can be incorporatedin any one or more channels independently of the others. In that case,the placement and length of commercial time windows must be defined inadvance and incorporated into the production and exhibition planning tomake sure that parallelism was retained between all tracks at all times,i.e., so that opposite tracks anticipate the breaks and that wheneveropposite tracks are displaying story content (rather than commercial),the content remains parallel across tracks.

DVD

Since, in the preferred embodiment, each track essentially comprises apotentially stand-alone story, any digital medium and player mustcontemplate both the synchronized progression of, and the seamlessswitching between, tracks. In the preferred embodiment, a dual-laserplayer would be required to play a double-sided DVD in order to provideexhibition of a 2-track production. Both sides would simultaneously readtheir respective tracks, which would be synchronized via simultaneousstarting/stopping.

In an alternative embodiment, a timing track is added to each productiontrack, indicating the time from start at each scene change. Coordinatingcircuitry maintains running times from start of each track, comparessaid timing tracks, and implements nominal delays of one or the othertracks at scene change points to maintain parallelism and coordinatedplay.

In an alternative embodiment, a simultaneous multiple DVD player wouldenable the synchronized play of two or more one or 2-sided DVD's withswitching mechanisms.

In yet another embodiment that the DVD will contain one or moremultiplexed tracks which would be de-multiplexed by the DVD playerlocated in proximity of the viewer or at a location remote from theviewer. In both instances a de-multiplexer would be used to readappropriate material based upon a choice made by the viewer at any timeduring the viewing of the production.

Exhibition—Theatres

The following discussion is limited to digital projection theatricalexhibition, as the application of the disclosed methods to film areconsidered impractical. Two issues confront the theatrical exhibition ofmulti-track video-plays: (1) Technology for displaying multi-channelscreenplays and switching between channels, and (2) the method forchannel selection in a multiparty audience environment.

The technology discussed for DVD should be applicable to theatricalexhibition. In the preferred environment, multiple DVD tracks (whetherfrom a single player of multiple simultaneous DVD's, or from multipleDVD's) feed into a circuit switching mechanism which directs theselected channel to the projector. Alternatively, numerous projectorscould simultaneously progress different channels and the switchingmechanism controls which projector is “live” (i.e., has its contentactually projected to the screen); the other projector(s) would be“ghost” channels (keeping their unprojected content synchronized andready for projection.).

When exhibiting a multi-channel production to a multi-party audience,some means must be provided both to implement channel selection and toaggregate and resolve conflicts in channel selection.

In the preferred embodiment, the channel selection mechanism comprisesany number of networked selection devices connected (wired or wireless)to a networked computer with software capable of receiving signals fromthe selection devices. Each viewer in the audience has an electronicselector device to indicate their channel preference. Software compilesthe selection results and also incorporates a “consensus” percentage setby the exhibitor. When the percentage of viewers desiring a channelother than the current channel reaches the consensus percentage, thesoftware switches the channel for the audience. The device would alsoallow the exhibitor to deactivate the device so that only one channel isplayed for any given showing.

As previously described, the present invention can operate by utilizingmultiplexed information. This information could be time division, timedivision multiplexed, frequency division multiplexed, phase divisionmultiplexed or code length division multiplexed, as well as any othertype of multiplexed algorithm. In this embodiment, the informationrelating to the interrelated stories, storylines or story parts would bemultiplexed onto a laser readable media 20 as shown in FIG. 8 by anyknown multiplexing device. This multiplexed information could becontained on a single track of multiple tracks.

A viewer can, at any point during the playing of the production switchfrom one interrelated story to a second interrelated story, onestoryline to a second storyline or one story part to a second storypart. It is noted that a plurality of interrelated stories, storylinesor story parts can be played at any time based upon the choice of theviewer. The chosen multiplexed data is read by a reader 22 provided witha laser beam 24.

FIG. 9 details a multiplexing unit 30 which is used to de-multiplex andallow the viewer to view a particular portion of the production. Thelaser readable media 20 can be provided at a location proximate to theviewer, such as a home DVD player. Alternatively, the laser readablemedia 20 can be provided at a remote location from the viewer and asignal produced by the reader 22 would then be transmitted to a device,such as a television monitor or computer monitor onto which theproduction is projected and the audio portion heard by the viewer.

The de-multiplexer unit 30 is provided with a selection unit 34 whichwould allow the viewer to choose the portion of the production to beviewed prior to de-multiplexing. This selection unit would generally beproximate to the viewer and the viewer would then input an input choiceusing the selection unit 34. The selection unit 34 is in communicationwith a de-multiplexer 32 through which the input tracker tracks would betransmitted. Therefore, based upon the choice of the viewer utilizingthe selection unit 34, a portion of the multiplexed production would beviewed by the viewer. The de-multiplexer 32 is in communication with amemory 36 and a buffer 38 to facilitate the synchronization of theaudio-visual information as previously described and discussed withrespect to FIG. 7. It is noted that the material shown in FIG. 1 intracks A and B, for example, would be multiplexed onto a single track.Alternatively, multiple multiplexed tracks could be utilized.

FIG. 10 describes a de-multiplexing embodiment which would be utilizedif the viewer selects a particular track or tracks to view subsequent tothe de-multiplexing of the input tracks by de-multiplexer 40. Similar toFIG. 9, a selection unit 42 would generally be proximate to the viewerand the viewer would then input an input choice using the selection unit42. The de-multiplexer 40 is in communication with a memory 44 and witha plurality of buffers 46 ₁-46 _(n). In this situation, the buffers 46₁-46 _(n) would include the de-multiplexed material on each of the endtracks.

In the preferred embodiment, the channel selection mechanism comprisesany number of networked selection devices connected (wired or wireless)to a networked computer with software capable of receiving signals fromthe selection devices. Each viewer in the audience has an electronicselector device to indicate their channel preference. Software compilesthe selection results and also incorporates a “consensus” percentage setby the exhibitor. When the percentage of viewers desiring a channelother than the current channel reaches the consensus percentage, thesoftware switches the channel for the audience. The device would alsoallow the exhibitor to deactivate the device so that only one channel isplayed for any given showing.

Defined in detail, the present invention is a method of creating andexhibiting audio-visual presentations, comprising: (a) amulti-dimensional production having at least two interrelated stories,storylines and story parts in audio-visual media; (b) simultaneouslydelivering parallel or multiplexed tracks of the at least twointerrelated stories, storylines and story parts in a manner so thatviewing can be alternated among the parallel tracks; and (c) each of thetracks delivered in parallel with all of the other tracks so that at alltimes, each track is sufficiently related to the other tracks so thatswitching between tracks at any time provides cumulative and logicallyrelated content.

Defined alternatively, the present invention is a method of creating andexhibiting audio-visual presentations, comprising: (a) amulti-dimensional production having at least two interrelated stories,storylines or story parts in audio-visual media; and (b) simultaneouslydelivering and streaming parallel tracks of the at least twointerrelated stories, storylines or story parts in a manner so thatviewing can be alternated among the parallel tracks.

Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or anyspecific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified invarious particulars or relations without departing from the spirit orscope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of whichthe apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration anddisclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the variousforms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied oroperated.

The present invention has been described in considerable detail in orderto comply with the patent laws of providing full public disclosure of atleast one of its forms. However, such detailed description is notintended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of thepresent invention, or the scope of the patent to be granted. Therefore,the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentationscomprising: a) providing a multi-dimensional production having at leasttwo parallel interrelated stories, parallel storylines or parallel storyparts provided on an audio-visual media to an audience, all of theinterrelated parallel stories, parallel storylines or parallel storyparts multiplexed on at least a single track of the audio-visual media;b) delivering at least portions of said at least one multiplex track toan audience in the course of exhibiting the production, allowing atleast one viewer in the audience to choose which of said parallelinterrelated stories, parallel storylines or parallel story parts to beviewed by the audience, the choice of which is made when the productionhas commenced as well as after the production has commenced; and c)wherein each of said parallel interrelated stories or each of saidparallel storylines or each of said parallel story parts is sufficientlyrelated to each other so that switching between these parallelinterrelated stories, parallel storylines or parallel story partsresults in producing cumulative and logically related content.
 2. Themethod of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations inaccordance with claim 1, further including the step of providing duringthe course of exhibiting the production, common subject matter whichwould always be viewed during the viewing of the production.
 3. Themethod of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the multiplexing of said single trackis produced by time division multiplexing, frequency divisionmultiplexing, phase division multiplexing or code length divisionmultiplexing.
 4. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visualpresentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least some of saidparallel interrelated stories, parallel storylines or parallel storyparts are synergistically related, and the viewer makes a selection forviewing for any length of time and between parallel interrelatedstories, parallel storylines or parallel story parts at any time duringthe viewing of the production.
 5. The method of creating and exhibitingaudio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1, furthercomprising means to indicate that alternative content is available. 6.The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations inaccordance with claim 5, wherein the means to indicate that alternativecontent is available is a symbol displayed at a location on a viewingscreen.
 7. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visualpresentations in accordance with claim 5, wherein the means to indicatethat alternative content is available is a display on a viewing box ormedia player.
 8. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visualpresentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein each production isstored on at least one laser readable disk including said singlemultiplexed track and a corresponding laser reader is in communicationwith a de-multiplexer to read the information provided on said disk andto exhibit the production in a manner chosen by said at least oneviewer.
 9. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visualpresentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensionalproduction is delivered via broadcast television.
 10. The method ofcreating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance withclaim 2, further comprising a means for coordinating the playing of saidcommon subject matter.
 11. The method of creating and exhibitingaudio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 2, wherein saidsingle multiplexed track contains a plurality of stories, each of saidstories being parallel in time to the other stories, and each of saidstories containing said common subject matter.
 12. The method ofcreating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance withclaim 11, wherein each of said stories is parallel in time to the otherstories, but in a different dimension.
 13. The method of creating andexhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 12,wherein each separate dimension is either a real-time event or aparallel flashback event.
 14. A method of creating an audio-visualpresentation, the presentation comprising a plurality of audio-visualproductions exhibited as simultaneous alternative content, the methodcomprising the steps of: a) writing a plurality of scripts; each scriptbeing sufficiently related to the other scripts so as to add andcontribute to the communication of the single presentation; each scriptproviding content for one or more of the plurality of audio-visualproductions; each script being written so that each and all of theaudio-visual productions remain, during the course of presentation,sufficiently related at all times to each and all other relatedproductions, such that switching by the audience between the productionscontinues to provide content logically relevant to the overall story andaudio-visual experience of which the plurality of scripts andproductions are a part; and b) producing the plurality of audio-visualproductions according to the plurality of related scripts; eachproduction being complete and independently viewable; each productionbeing related to the other related productions according to theplurality of related scripts in contributing to the presentation; eachproduction providing simultaneously available alternative content toeach and all other related productions during the presentation; eachproduction having an exhibition time identical to each and all otherrelated productions; each production being organized to contain scenesof such length and in such order so that switching by the audience fromone point in one production, to the same elapsed time point of any otherrelated production, being parallel portions, continue to provide contentlogically relevant to and consistent with the overall presentation ofwhich the plurality of scripts and productions are a part; and storingall of said productions on at least a single multiplexed track providedon a storage medium.
 15. The method of creating and exhibitingaudio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 14, including thestep of providing access to any and each of the parallel portions ofsaid production at any time as part of the presentation.
 16. A method ofexhibiting an audio-visual presentation, the presentation consisting ofa plurality of related, audio-visual productions, each presentingsimultaneously available alternative content during the presentation,said method comprising the steps of: storing all of said productions onat least a single multiplexed track provided on a storage medium; makingeach and all of parallel portions of the plurality of relatedaudio-visual productions available for exhibition at any time during thepresentation; providing an audience a means of selecting which of theplurality of related audio-visual productions to experience during eachand all times during the presentation; and in response to the audienceselection, switching the presentation from the related audio-visualproduction then being exhibited to the same elapsed time point in therelated audio-visual production selected.
 17. The method of creating andexhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance with claim 1,wherein the production is delivered via motion pictures or satellite orcable.
 18. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visualpresentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein the viewer chooseswhich said parallel interrelated stories, parallel storylines orparallel story parts at any time during the production.
 19. The methodof creating and exhibiting audio-visual presentations in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the audio-visual media is located proximate to theviewer.
 20. The method of creating and exhibiting audio-visualpresentations in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audio-visual mediais located at a remote location from the viewer.